Stork –A newsletter for NCSN members. Nature Conservation Society of Nashik (NCSN) Address : Vihang, Survey no. 325/4, Moon farm, behind Fravashi International Academy, Dugaon, Nashik- 422203 Mobile : 9011034892 Email : [email protected] Visit us at : www.ncsn.org.in
Volume : 73-March and April, 2019
Season Watch with NCSN at Dugarwadi (Citizen Science Initiative)
SeasonWatch is a nation-wide program that studies the changing seasons by monitoring the seasonal cycles of flowering, fruiting and leaf-flush of common trees. It is a citizen science program where people interested in trees can participate and NCSN decided to contribute in the event – “Season Watch (Spring Tree Quest, 2019)” and NCSN organized a visit to Dugarwadi Forest Area on 17th March, 2019 as a type of public event. The event was open to all and our team was overwhelmed by the response as 30 people from different walks of life participated. Mrs. Jui Pethe was invited as an expert where she guided us through the forest and enlightened us about various trees, their identification characteristics and their uses. The trees observed during the event were Sadada, Bahava, Umbar, Mohua, Waras, Pangara, etc. We also observed forest birds like Coppersmith and White-cheeked Barbet, Vigors Sunbird, Jungle Owlet, Small Minivet, Black Eagle, Shikra etc. NCSN is really grateful to all the participants who joined us on the survey. We overall observed and noted 22 different tree species.
Comments from Participants: Mr. Mohan Baxi – “We had a quality hike at Dugarwadi, thanks to Pratiksha and Pethe madam who added to our knowledge of medicinal plants. We should have more and more such tour with purpose.”
Mrs. Sanjana Kajve – “It was a great nature walk. Very informative. Waiting for future events. ”
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Mrs. Jui Pethe discussing the Terminalia tree during the event
Participants watching birds on the trail Early morning briefing session by Pratiksha
Participants enjoying field breakfast
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A chart of trees, observed during the outing prepared by Kaustubh Masurkar (participant )
Indian Coral Tree (Pangara) Flame of Forest (Palash)
White-cheecked Barbet
Organizing team : Ashish Kataria, Jui Pethe, Aadit and Anuj Deore, Pratiksha Kothule.
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Activities of the month March and April, 2019
Date Activities 02/03/2019 Fravashi Academy nature club outing to Nandur Madhmeshwar Bird Sanctuary - I 03/03/2019 Bird Survey at Harsul Forest 08/03/2019 Field visit to Borgad with Wilson College, Mumbai 10/03/2019 Site visit to Borgad Conservation Reserve 11/03/2019 Nature Club activity at Fravashi Academy
13/03/2019 Nature Awareness trail for Z.P. Primary School, Chinchwad to Harsul Forest area 15/03/2019 Visit to Borgad Conservation Reserve 16/03/2019 Fravashi Academy nature club outing to Nandur Madhmeshwar Bird Sanctuary - II 17/03/2019 Season Watch at Dugarwadi Forest Area (public outing) 18/03/2019 Final session and prize distribution for Nature Club students of Fravashi Academy 23/03/2019 Ashoka Universal School, Chandsi nature club outing to Nandur Madhmeshwar Bird Sanctuary 24/03/2019 Ashoka Universal School, Chandsi nature club outing to Harsul Forest Area 27/03/2019 Painting competition and presentation on forest birds at tribal schools 28/03/2019 Visit to Borgad Conservation Reserve 01/04/2019 NCSN’s monthly meet 03/04/2019 Site visit to Borgad Conservation Reserve 07/04/2019 Bird Survey at Harsul Forest 11/04/2019 Visit to Borgad Conservation Reserve 12/04/2019 Judging of Painting Competition at Vihang 15/04/2019 Prize distribution at tribal schools 17/04/2019 “World of Birds” presentation for Bhosala Adventure Camp 18/04/2019 Visit to Borgad Conservation Reserve 19/04/2019 Anjaneri Vulture Project awareness activity at Anjaneri-Hunuman Jayanti Yatra 24/04/2019 “World of Birds” presentation for Bhosala Adventure Camp 26/04/2019 Visit to Borgad Conservation Reserve
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Bird Surveys
Location : Harsul Forest
Date: 3th March, 2019 Time: 7.00 am to 10.30 am Weather: Sunny
Member: Pratiksha Kothule and Yogesh Patel Observation Method: Line Transect
Sr.No. Common Name Scientific name No. of Status individuals 1 Indian Peafowl Pavo cristatus 1 Resident 2 Spotted Dove Streptopelia chinensis 2 Resident 3 Laughing Dove Streptopelia senegalensis 1 Resident 4 Yellow-footed Green-Pigeon) Treron phoenicopterus 1 Resident 5 Greater Coucal (Southern) Centropus sinensis parroti 1 Resident 6 Banded Bay Cuckoo Cacomantis sonneratii 1 Very rare 7 Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis 1 Resident 8 Oriental Honey-buzzard Pernis ptilorhynchus 2 Resident 9 White-rumped Vulture Gyps bengalensis 1 Resident 10 Indian Vulture Gyps indicus 1 Resident 11 White-eyed Buzzard Butastur teesa 1 Resident 12 Black Kite Milvus migrans 1 Resident 13 Jungle Owlet Glaucidium radiatum 1 Resident 14 Forest Owlet Athene blewitti 1 Resident 15 Indian Grey Hornbill Ocyceros birostris 1 Resident 16 Coppersmith Barbet Psilopogon haemacephalus 2 Resident 17 White-cheeked Barbet (Psilopogon viridis 2 Resident 18 Brown-capped Pygmy Yungipicus nanus 1 Resident Woodpecker 19 Yellow-crowned Woodpecker Leiopicus mahrattensis 1 Resident 20 White-naped Woodpecker Chrysocolaptes festivus 4 1st photo record 21 Plum-headed Parakeet Psittacula cyanocephala 4 Resident 22 Common Woodshrike Tephrodornis pondicerianus 1 Resident 23 Common Iora Aegithina tiphia 2 Resident 24 Small Minivet Pericrocotus cinnamomeus 2 Resident 25 Long-tailed Shrike Lanius schach 1 Resident 26 Black-hooded Oriole Oriolus xanthornus 1 Resident 27 Black Drongo Dicrurus macrocercus 2 Resident 28 Ashy Drongo Dicrurus leucophaeus 2 Migratory 29 White-bellied Drongo Dicrurus caerulescens 1 Resident 30 Spot-breasted Fantail Rhipidura albogularis 1 Resident 31 Indian Paradise-Flycatcher Terpsiphone paradisi 1 Resident 5 | P a g e
32 House Crow Corvus splendens 1 Resident 33 Indian Jungle Crow Corvus macrorhynchos 1 Resident culminatus 34 Eurasian Crag-Martin Ptyonoprogne rupestris 4 Migratory 35 Grey-headed Canary- Culicicapa ceylonensis 1 Migratory Flycatcher 36 Red-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus cafer 10 Resident 37 Red-whiskered Bulbul Pycnonotus jocosus 12 Resident 38 Greenish Warbler Phylloscopus trochiloides 1 Migratory 39 Common Tailorbird Orthotomus sutorius 2 Resident 40 Grey-breasted Prinia Prinia hodgsonii 1 Resident 41 Indian Scimitar-Babbler Pomatorhinus horsfieldii 2 Resident 42 Puff-throated Babbler Pellorneum ruficeps 1 Resident 43 Brown-cheeked Fulvetta Alcippe poioicephala 2 Resident 44 Jungle Babbler Turdoides striata 8 Resident 45 Red-breasted Flycatcher Ficedula parva 2 Migratory 46 Blue-capped Rock-Thrush Monticola cinclorhyncha 1 Migratory 47 Thick-billed Flowerpecker Dicaeum agile 2 Resident 48 Pale-billed Flowerpecker Dicaeum erythrorhynchos 1 Resident 49 Purple Sunbird Cinnyris asiaticus 2 Resident 50 Vigors's Sunbird Aethopyga vigorsii 2 Resident 51 Common Rosefinch Carpodacus erythrinus 6 Migratory 52 Crested Bunting Emberiza lathami 2 Resident 53 Chestnut-shouldered Petronia Gymnornis xanthocollis 4 Resident
White-naped Woodpecker (1st photographic record in Nashik)
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Coppersmith Barbet Common Iora
Yellow-crowned Woodpecker White-eyed Buzzard
Banded Bay Cuckoo Black-hooded Oriole
Large Cuckooshrike Indian Yellow Tit
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Location : Nandur Madhmeshwar Bird Sanctuary
Date: 23th March Time: 7.00 am to 9 am Weather: Sunny Observation Method: Point Count
Observers: Pratiksha Kothule, Aadit, Anuj Deore and students of Ashoka Universal School
No Common Name Scientific name Total
1 Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea 2 2 Garganey Spatula querquedula 12 3 Northern Shoveler Spatula clypeata 100 4 Indian Spot-billed Duck Anas poecilorhyncha 5 5 Mallard Anas platyrhynchos 1 6 Northern Pintail Anas acuta 50 7 Grey Francolin Francolinus pondicerianus 2 8 Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus 12 9 Common Crane Grus grus 60 10 Red-wattled Lapwing Vanellus indicus 1 11 Pheasant-tailed Jacana Hydrophasianus chirurgus 1 12 Asian Openbill Anastomus oscitans 1 13 Woolly-necked Stork Ciconia episcopus 1 14 White Stork Ciconia ciconia 1 15 Painted Stork Mycteria leucocephala 10 16 Little Cormorant Microcarbo niger 10 17 Grey Heron Ardea cinerea 2 18 Purple Heron Ardea purpurea 4 19 Great Egret Ardea alba 1 20 Intermediate Egret Ardea intermedia 2 21 Little Egret Egretta garzetta 2 22 Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus 4 23 Black-headed Ibis Threskiornis melanocephalus 2 24 Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia 10 25 Eurasian Marsh-Harrier Circus aeruginosus 1 26 Spotted Owlet Athene brama 2 27 Long-tailed Shrike Lanius schach 1 28 Black-headed Bunting Emberiza melanocephala 10
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Visits to Borgad Conservation Reserve and Bird Surveys
Bloom of Cassia fistula (Bahava)
Pellets of Indian Hare Seed dispersal of Silk-cotton Tree
Pods of Waras tree Flowers of Safed Kuda
Flowers of Dhaman Tree Pods of Tiwas Tree 9 | P a g e
Indian Roller Red-vented Bulbul
Indian Robin
Indian Silverbill Indian Peafowl
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Nesting time for forest resident birds
Indian Robin
Male Female
Nest site in between two rocks on forest floor, 2 eggs laid.
The Indian robin (Copsychus fulicatus) is a species of bird in the family Muscicapidae. It is widespread in the Indian subcontinent, and ranges across Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. They are commonly found in open scrub areas and often seen running along the ground or perching on low thorny shrubs and rocks. The long tail is usually held up and the chestnut undertail coverts and dark body make them easily distinguishable from Pied Bushchat and Oriental Magpie Robin.
The Indian robin is sexually dimorphic in plumage with the male being mainly black and female is brown. This bird is found in open stony, grassy and scrub forest habitats. They are mainly found in dry habitats and are mostly absent from the thicker forest regions and high rainfall areas. All populations are resident and non-migratory. Summer is the breeding time for these birds and males sing during this season and display by lowering and spreading their tail feathers and strutting around the female, displaying their sides and fluffing their undertail coverts. Nests are built between rocks, in holes, in walls or in a tree hollow. Nests are lined with animal hair of snake sloughs. Three to four eggs is the usual clutch. Only the female incubates. Eggs hatch in about 10–12 days. Both males and females feed the young.
They feed mostly on insects but are known to take frogs and lizards especially when feeding young at the nest. Individuals may forage late in the evening to capture insects attracted to lights.
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Common Woodshrike
Parent bird with insect near nest Highly camouflaged nest on a leafless tree
The Common Woodshrike (Tephrodornis pondicerianus) is a species of bird found in Asia is a member of the family Vangidae. It is small and ashy brown with a dark cheek patch and a broad white brow. It is found in thin forest and scrub habitats where they hunt insects and often joining other insectivorous birds. Usually found in pairs, they have a loud whistling song made of several notes.
They have a habit of adjusting their wings, raising them over the tail shortly after alighting on a perch. They nest in summer before the rainy season, building a cup nest on a bare fork. The nest is made of fibres and bark held by cobwebs and covered with bits of bark and lichen. It is lined with silky plant fibres. Three eggs are the usual clutch.
Both parents incubate but it is thought that only the female feeds the young. Young birds are fed on insects and berries. Two broods may be raised in some years.
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Location : Borgad Conservation Reserve
Date: 26th April, 2019 Time: 7.00 am to 9 am Weather: Sunny
Observers: Pratiksha Kothule and Rahul Gadgil Observation Method: Line Transect
Sr.No. Common Name Scientific name No. of Status individuals 1 Indian Peafowl Pavo cristatus 9 Resident 2 Spotted Dove Streptopelia chinensis 1 Resident 3 Laughing Dove Streptopelia senegalensis 2 Resident 4 Asian Koel Eudynamys scolopaceus 1 Resident 5 Green Bee-eater Merops orientalis 1 Resident 6 Coppersmith Barbet Psilopogon haemacephalus 1 Resident 7 Common Woodshrike Tephrodornis pondicerianus 1 Resident 8 Common Iora Aegithina tiphia 2 Resident 9 Small Minivet Pericrocotus cinnamomeus 2 Resident 10 Indian Jungle Crow Corvus macrorhynchos culminatus 1 Resident 11 Red-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus cafer 6 Resident 12 Red-whiskered Bulbul Pycnonotus jocosus 2 Resident 13 Common Tailorbird Orthotomus sutorius 1 Resident 14 Grey-breasted Prinia Prinia hodgsonii 1 Resident 15 Jungle Babbler Turdoides striata 10 Resident 16 Indian Robin Copsychus fulicatus 4 Resident 17 Indian Blackbird Turdus simillimus 1 Resident 18 Brahminy Starling Sturnia pagodarum 4 Resident 19 Purple Sunbird Cinnyris asiaticus 1 Resident 20 Indian Peafowl Pavo cristatus 9 Resident
Mr. Shirsat standing near the only perennial source of water at the base of Borgad Conservation Reserve
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A tale of a fruiting Ficus tree
At Borgad on 27th March, we observed a fruiting Ficus arnottiana (Indian Rock Fig) for an hour (7.30 to 8.30 am) to note the different bird species visiting the tree. A point count method was used for the survey and we sat on a distance where the entire tree was visible and observed birds visiting it. The tree was full of fruits and 90% of them where ripe. Soon after we reached the spot, we saw a big flock of Red-vented Bulbuls feasting on the fruits. After having their share they left and in a while a flock of Red-whiskered Bulbuls arrived. Simultaneously a Thick-billed Flowerpecker was also dining on the fruits. We could hear a Coppersmith Barbet at a distance and that bird too visited the tree for the fruits during our observation time. We could also spot a few insectivorous birds like Common Woodshrike, Green Bee- eater, Black Drongo, etc. as they had come to feed on the insects attracted by the ripe fruits. And around us we also saw a Spotted Dove, Laughing Dove perching and calling. Bird of prey, a female Pallid Harrier quickly gazed upon the spot during that time and might have scanned the area for hunt.
We were quite surprised to see 10 species and around 20-25 individual birds at one spot in such short span of time in a dry season of a dry deciduous forest. After our observation we were convinced that a Ficus truly stands as a keystone species in our ecosystem and supports the survival of lifeforms, specially during summer where food and water is scanty.
Red-vented Bulbul
Thick-billed Flowerpecker Coppersmith Barbet Anuj observing the birds
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Tribal school Nature Awareness Activities
Nature Trail for – Z.P. Primary School, Chinchwad at Harsul forest
Painting Competition at :
Z.P. Primary School Torangan, Z.P. Primary School, Dalpatpur.
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PowerPoint Presentation :
We organized presentation on Forest Birds of Nashik at Zilla Parishad Schools of Torangan and Dalpatpur, Harsul on 27th March. The presentation was quite interactive with a lot of knowledge exchange. We came across some local names of birds and we sensitized them about the importance of trees, birds for our survival. Some kids raised their hands once we asked them whether they have Parakeets as pets and also are using catapults. They were informed that having Indian bird as form of pet is illegal and killing of wildlife is against law. Regular interactions with them and organizing several nature awareness activities might play a crucial role in saving our precious wildlife.
We thank our sponsors for their constant support and help to reach the interiors, where actual awareness is the need of an hour. NCSN has been organizing such activities in several village schools around Nashik for the past 15 years and the results are noticeable.
Judging of the paintings :
Judges – Mr. & Mrs. Rosario, Kiran Rahalkar, Abhijeet Mahale and Vaibhav Bhogale 16 | P a g e
Prize winning paintings:
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Painting Competition - Prize distribution :
Z. P.Primary School-Dalpatpur Z.P.Primary School -Torangan
Z.P.Primary School- Shevkhandi Madhyamic Vidhyalaya- Nachlondi
Z.P.Primary School- Nachlondi V.P.U. Ashramshala- Waghera
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City schools Nature Awareness Activities
Fravashi Academy nature club outing to Nandur Madhmeshwar Bird Sanctuary - I
Fravashi Academy nature club outing to Nandur Madhmeshwar Bird Sanctuary - II
Ashoka Universal School, Chandsi nature club outing to Harsul Forest Area
Final session and prize distribution for Nature Club students of Fravashi Academy
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Highlights of March and April
Two of Raha sir’s favorite birds spotted in Nashik
Forest Owlet White Stork
Water supply to the Borgad’s forest waterhole by Forest Department
NCSN monthly meeting held on 1st April :
Mr. Ashish Kataria, Dr. V. Savkar, Rahul Gadgil, Pratiksha Kothule and Mr. Rajesh were present to discus NCSN working.
➢ NCSN is looking to hire a Field Officer. Kindly let us know if anyone who might qualify and is interested in this position. Please feel free to pass it on to appropriate resource. ➢ Basic requirement: Graduate and primary knowledge of wildlife. Who is willing to work fulltime and give at least one year of commitment. ➢ Interested candidate must send their CV on [email protected] or contact on 901134892. Work requirements and salary will be discussed during the interview.
Contents & Photographs: Pratiksha Kothule and Mr. Rajesh
Newsletter designed and edited by: Pratiksha Kothule and Rahul Gadgil.
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